Robin Williams to Play Dwight D. Eisenhower in Lee Daniels’ THE BUTLER

Robin Williams has now firmed up plans to star in two upcoming projects. First up, Williams will play President Dwight D. Eisenhower in director Lee Daniels’ drama The Butler. The film tells the true story of Eugene Allen, a butler who served at the White House from 1952 to 1986. Forest Whitaker plays Allen, Oprah Winfrey is set as his wife, and David Oyelowo will star as Allen’s son. Daniels is casting a number of stars to play the famous men and women who come in and out of the White House over the years, and it was announced today that Williams will be playing Eisenhower. John Cusack, Alan Rickman, Terrence Howard, Vanessa Redgrave, Jane Fonda, Colman Domingo, Minka Kelly, and more are also lined up to appear.

Additionally, we previously heard that Williams would star alongside Mila Kunis and Peter Dinklage in Phil Alden Robinson’s high concept comedy The Angriest Man in Brooklyn. The actor’s involvement has now been confirmed, and you can read the full press release after the jump.

Here’s the press release:

Los Angeles, CA, July 18, 2012 – Robin Williams is set to begin production on two major film projects in the coming months.

Scheduled to begin shooting later this month in New Orleans, the film is based on the life of Eugene Allen, a White House servant who worked for eight First Families over three decades. Danny Strong wrote the script with Daniels based on Wil Haygood’s Washington Post article about Allen. The film will be produced by Daniels with Hilary Shor, Cassian Elwes and Pam Williams for Laura Zisken Productions.

Additionally, Williams has officially signed on to star in the comedy, “The Angriest Man In Brooklyn,” opposite Mila Kunis, Peter Dinklage, Melissa Leo and James Earl Jones.

The film is the story of a stand-in doctor who mistakenly tells an obnoxious patient he has 90 minutes to live. The medic tries desperately to locate the man after her comments sends him on a contrite tour of the city to right all the wrongs in his life.